In a pivotal moment for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in a highly anticipated debate on Thursday night focussing on jobs and economy. This debate provided a unique chance for both candidates to outline their visions and confront each other on various critical issues.

The debate was crucial for Biden, the 81-year-old Democratic incumbent, as he aimed to reassure voters of his ability to lead the country through ongoing challenges. For Trump, aged 78, it was an opportunity to move beyond his recent felony conviction in New York and demonstrate his suitability to return to the White House.

Both candidates faced significant challenges, with polls showing widespread dissatisfaction among voters tired of partisan conflict. The debate emphasized their starkly different approaches to major issues such as abortion, the economy, and foreign policy, as well as their deep animosity towards each other.

As they took the stage, Biden and Trump avoided a handshake and headed straight to their lecterns. Biden was first to answer, defending his administration's handling of inflation by blaming the situation he inherited from Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a hoarse voice requiring him to clear his throat twice, Biden remained composed, while Trump smirked.

This debate marked the first interaction between the two since their last debate before the 2020 election. Trump had notably skipped Biden’s inauguration and led an unprecedented, albeit unsuccessful, effort to overturn his loss, culminating in the January 6 Capitol insurrection by his supporters.

Trump promised significant changes to the U.S. government if re-elected, while Biden warned that Trump’s return would threaten the nation’s democracy. The debate, aired on CNN and moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, was the earliest general election debate in history and the first hosted by a single news outlet. Both campaigns had opted out of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which had organized such events since 1988.

In an effort to avoid the chaos of their 2020 debates, both candidates agreed to a format without an audience, and allowed CNN to mute microphones when it wasn't a candidate's turn to speak. The debate also included two commercial breaks, during which the candidates agreed not to consult with their staff.

Trump and his team have spent months highlighting what they perceive as Biden's diminished stamina, though they predicted Biden would perform strongly in the debate. Similarly, Biden’s team expressed confidence in his preparedness and hoped Trump would be forced to address controversial positions.

“Joe’s ready to go. He’s prepared. He’s confident,” Jill Biden told donors before the debate. “You know what a great debater he is.”

Eyeing Swing States
Following the debate, both candidates planned visits to key states. Trump is heading to Virginia, a former battleground now leaning Democratic. Biden will travel to North Carolina, where he plans to hold the largest rally of his campaign in a state Trump narrowly won in 2020.

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